P.E.I. government to make decision on hospitals future by fall

CHARLOTTETOWN The Prince Edward Island government will be making decisions on the future of several small hospitals in the western part of the Island by this fall.

CHARLOTTETOWN The Prince Edward Island government will be making decisions on the future of several small hospitals in the western part of the Island by this fall.

After its election in the Spring of 2007, the Liberal government had stated it needed until 2009 to decide the direction of hospital services in West Prince.

However, Health Minister Doug Currie is saying a decision could be reached in about two months.

The Liberal moratorium had put the previous Conservatives plans for a new hospital in Bloomfield, P.E.I, on hold.

Currie said the government has a lot of information at its disposal to assist in making a decision.

That includes a master plan which was in the process of being drafted when the new government took office.

Soon to be added to the list will be the report being prepared from the operational review of the provincial health-care system.

By mid to late October we feel very comfortable well be in position to make a decision on which direction to take, Currie said.

Shortly after taking power in the spring of 2007, and as promised in their election campaign, the Robert Ghiz Liberals placed a 30-month moratorium on new hospital construction in West Prince, pledging to use that time period to decide what direction the new government would take.

The health minister would not comment on what directions might be considered.